bChapter /bb59 /b

The silence stretched inside the car like a taut wire, the kind that could snap with the softest touch. My breath caught somewhere between my lungs and my throat frozen asistired at Nik

He swallowed. His Adain’s apple rolled up and downb. /bbSlow /b

And without a word, without a warning, his hand reached out and wrapped around the nape of my neck, pulling me forward.

And then he kissed me.

It wasn’t gentle. It wasn’t teasing. It bwasn’t /beven one of those cocky, smug bkisses /bhe sometimes gave when he was in the mood to fluster me

This was different

This kiss was deep. Raw. Desperate.

His lips moved against mine like he was trying to pour every unspoken thing between us straight into me. His fingers tightened slightly at the bback /bof my neck, holding me still. His body leaned in, the faint scent of his cologne–earthy, expensive, painfully him–flooding my senses.

My eyes widened, but I didn’t pull back. Couldn’t

I let myself sink into him. Let myself feel it.

For a moment, there was no pain in my hands, no fear in my chest, no doubts wing at the edges of my thoughts. There was only him–his mouth ming bmine/b, the heat of his skin through his shirt, the bway /bhis breath hitched when I leaned into him just a little more.

But then pain did flore. Sharp and real.

I identally clenched my hands, my fingers curling against the inside of the bandages, and a hiss escaped before I could stop it.

He broke the kiss instantly, his hands flying to my wrists.

“Are you okay?” he asked, his voice low but urgent, eyes scanning my face, searching

I couldn’t answer.

I just stared at him.

Wide–eyed. Stunned. Completely, utterly bbergasted.

My mind was racing ba /bmile ba /bsecond, thoughts crashing into one another like cars in a pileup. What had just happened? Why did it feel like my heart was bbeating /bin my throat? Why was it so hard to breathe?

His kiss hadn’t just stole my breath–t had taken something else. Something far more dangerous. Something terrifying

Fewings. bFeelings /bI had constantly been pushing inside that dark room in my mind, feelings i had been trying bso /bhard not to think about after th

ident

I watched him run a hand through his hair, frustration tugging at the corners of his mouth as he leaned back against the seat

“na,” he muttered, voice rough wally did this marriage thinking it would onlyst a year this, but I really thought I would just get over byou/b. That i could bwalk away /bafter and not look back. Because I have never felt like this for banyone /b

Just on

one year I know I sound like an authote saying

b13:14 /bFri, 25 Jun

He looked at then, really looked

“But now i have to ask,” he und,

und, his voice Irwer, more raw. “Am I the only one feeling

in thist

The question knocked the an night out of me.

Bit, my lip, hard.

Ditri’s words came rushing back. He’s a Vetrov too. That sentence echoed through my mind like a warning bell. Did bit /bmatter that Niki wasn’t like Dmitr? That he hadn’t hurt me the same way! Could really trust myself not to make the same mistake again?

My eyes began to sting, and I turned away, blinking rapidly. Fuck what was wrong with me?

I didn’t trust my bvoice/b.

“I began, the words thick in my throat. “I think we should think about this first. I don’t.. don’t want us to make a conclusion this fast and end up regresting it

My chest ached as bforced /bthe words out.

“it’s only been a week since our marriage, Niki.

He sighed, and felt his gaze linger on me even as I refused to meet his eyes.

petit,” he murmured after ba /blong pause. “You’re right.”

He reached over and gently pulled my seatbelt into ce, fastening it with a click that sounded too loud in the stillness.

btake /bhome.

But shook my head,

He nced at me, confused.

think you should go to work,” I said, finally looking up. “You have meetings. You’re busy”

He frowned, his jaw hardening.

“I can’t leave you alone like this,” he said, the edge in his voice unmistakable. “You can even use your hands. How will byou /bmove around? Shower? Eat? What if you fallb?/bb” /b

“I’ll manage.”

“No,” he snapped. “You won’t. I know you, Elema. You’ll pretend you’re fine, and you’ll suffer in silence, and I’m not okay with that

| Blinked, taken aback by the sheer force of his protectiveness

He reached into his zer pocket, pulled out his phone, and dialed with a speed that told me he’d already my opinion was

made his decision and it didn’t matter what

*Felix,” he said when the call connected. “I need you to arrange for an in–home nurse. Full–time. Yes. She needs help with daily tasks, her hands are injured Should also know to cook or handle bsimple /bmeals. Today, Felix. Within the hour. Money isn’t an issue.”

“Hey!” i bsnapped/b, wide–eyed “What the hell, Nikib?/bb” /b

He shrugged,pletely unapologetic as he ended the cat

“It’s either that,” he said, “or I stay home all day looking after you

b214 /b

My lips parted.

He didn’t finch. Didn’t solen. Just stared at me ket

in this was non-

non–negotiable.

“I won’t leave you alone like this,” he said, quieter nom, “Especially not when your mom’s out for work.”

Imped back against the seat, finally giving in with a sigh. My heart beat unevenly in my chest, each thud louder than thest.

What the hell bwas /bI supposed to do with a man like this?

Someone who saw right through me

Someone who did things like this without asking because he bknew /bI’d never ask for help myself.

My brain screamed no.

My heart screamed yes

I was stuck in the middle, slowly drowning in both,

The ride home bwas /bquiet. Not awkward. Not tense. Just bquiet/b,

When we bgot /binside, Niki helped me change into morefortable clothes a simple, oversized T–shirt and a pair of soft pajama pants. His hands worked gently, efficiently, never lingering too long, though his fingers brushed against my waist once, and I swore I stopped breathing.

“You hungry?” he asked, already moving into the kitchen.

“Atle, admitted

He rolled up his sleeves and began moving around the bspace /blike he owned it

I sat at the dining btable/b, elbows resting on the edge as I watched him open a bag of le

lentils and measure out rice. The way he moved… focused, precise,

capable.

He didn’t even use his phone for instructions. Just chopped and tired, sprinkling in cumin, ginger, a bit of turmeric, tasting asionally with a wooden

bзросл /b

I smiled faintly, watching him, something warm curling in my che

He set the pot on the stove and turned the heat bdown /bto simmer. Then he walked over, wiping his hands on a towel just as the doorbell rang

He opened the door, and in walked the nurse.

She was in her early thirties, petite but sprightly. Her dark brown hair was tucked under a patterned scarf, and she wore in blue bscrubs/b. Her name read.

“Princess

Iblinked Seriously?

Her eyesnded on Niki fit, and she smiled Bright Flirty. Her gaze lingered far longer than was strictly professional

“Hi,” she said sweetly. “You must be Elena. And you–she nced at Niki, then looked back at mo–must be the dating husband. You’re very sweet.”

Oh. Oh no.

I pasted on a smile so tight it could crack ss

“T” said, voice syrupy “MY husband is VERY SWEEL”

13:14:24, 4